Authorities are being accused of bringing in measures that infringe civil rights without proper consultation.
Introduction
CIVIL LIBERTIES campaigners have accused airport chiefs of sneaking in mandatory fingerprinting of passengers on domestic routes without proper consultation. Heathrow Airport has quietly introduced compulsory fingerprinting and photographic profiling of passengers on domestic routes, including to Glasgow and Edinburgh, ahead of the opening of its fifth terminal late next month.
Outrage and Concern
The move has already caused disquiet among some passengers who were handed leaflets warning they would be barred from their flights unless they co-operated. Anti-ID card campaigners have demanded to know why no public announcement was made and fear compulsory fingerprinting is smoothing the path for the controversial scheme's introduction UK-wide.
Government Justification
The British Airports Authority (BAA), which operates Heathrow, claims the profiling is needed because the new terminal will have a single departure lounge for domestic and international travellers. The Home Office wants to prevent travellers from bypassing stringent immigration checks by swapping flight tickets once they are through the initial check-in process.
Concerns of Civil Liberties Experts
Dr Gus Hosein, of the London School of Economics who has studied the impact of technology on civil liberties, claimed the government is "softening up" people, particularly the young, by making fingerprinting appear acceptable in the run up to ID cards. Hosein compared the scheme to those run by the Nazis as part of the Jewish persecution. He believes that the constant introduction of measures like this is desensitizing people and making them more accepting of further infringements on their civil rights.
Data Protection and Security Concerns
Geraint Bevan, spokesman for No2ID Scotland, said the technology highlighted the vulnerability of people's privacy because it could be open to abuse by staff or passengers who could easily forge fingerprint details to avoid immigration checks. He also expressed concerns about the increased complacency among check-in staff if they are occupied with fingerprint checks, which may result in them not paying as much attention to boarding cards.
Passenger Experiences and Concerns
Passengers have expressed discomfort about having their biometric data collected and the potential implications of this information being circulated amongst various authorities. Many individuals believe that their personal information should remain private and not be collected or used without their consent.
Hotels and Privacy Concerns
While the focus of this article has been on the fingerprinting measures at Heathrow Airport, it is worth noting that the concerns surrounding privacy and data protection extend to other areas, including hotels. With the growing use of biometrics in various industries, including hospitality, there is an increasing need to address the potential risks and ensure that individuals' personal information is handled securely.
Hotels often collect guests' personal information, such as passport details, for security and legal reasons. However, it is important for hotels to have strict data protection policies in place to safeguard this information and prevent any unauthorized access or misuse. This includes implementing secure storage systems, strong encryption protocols, and strict access controls.
In addition, hotels should clearly communicate their data protection policies to guests and provide them with options to opt out of any biometric data collection if they wish. Transparency and informed consent are key when it comes to handling guests' personal information.
Ultimately, it is a delicate balance between ensuring security and protecting individual privacy. Hotels, like any other organization, must prioritize data protection and implement robust safeguards to address the concerns raised by guests and privacy advocates.
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